Pound Surfing can be a thrilling yet time-consuming endeavor in the quest for your dream Neopet. With thousands of players vying for the same pets, competition can be fierce. However, with the right strategies, you can increase your chances of success and find the pet you desire more efficiently.

Things You Need to Know

1. TNT Doesn’t Care About Auto-Adopters It may sound shocking, but many players believe that the freeze rate for using auto-adoption programs is low. Users often report that they can use auto-adopters without facing penalties, as the sheer number of players surfing the pound makes it difficult for TNT to identify automation. However, always use caution and monitor your account activity.
2. Have Enough Neopoints Ready When adopting pets, especially those with better stats, it’s essential to have enough Neopoints on hand to cover the adoption fee. Use the following formula to calculate the fee:

   $$\text{Fee}=(\text{Strength}+\text{Defense}+\text{Movement}+60)\times \text{Level}$$For example, to adopt a Level 3 Starry Kau with Strength 10, Defense 6, and Movement 5:

   $$(10+6+5+60)\times 3=243\text{ Neopoints}$$For convenience, websites like Jellyneo.com or Neopound.com offer Pound Calculators to assist with calculations.

3. Use Accounts Aged at Least 4 Months New accounts face restrictions on adopting certain pets. To adopt higher-level pets and special colors, ensure your account is at least four months old. If your account doesn’t meet this requirement, you can still adopt basic colors such as Blue, Brown, Red, and more.
4. Learn Color Value The market for pet colors fluctuates based on supply and demand. Familiarize yourself with the value of colors to make informed decisions about trades and adoption. Certain colors can significantly increase a pet’s desirability.
5. Know Your Terms Familiarize yourself with common abbreviations and terms in the Neopian community:
   • UC: Unconverted
   • BD: Battledome
   • WN: Well-named
   • AUTO: Automatic confirmation of trade
   • UFT: Up for Trade
   • UFA: Up for Adoption
   • NTY: No Thank You
6. Cover Your Tracks if Surfing Illegitimately If using auto-adopters, avoid leaving them running for extended periods on accounts with Neofriends. This could raise suspicions. Instead, consider using a separate account or varying your surfing schedule to mimic human behavior.

Techniques for Successful Pound Surfing

1. Check the Pound Board Look for threads on the Pound Board where users announce that they will pound specific pets at certain times. Even if the pet isn’t your top choice, participating can yield surprising results.
2. Use Google Search For finding “stuck” pets (those not appearing through browsing), use Google with the following syntax:
   bash

   Copy code

   (colour/species) "owner: in the pound" site:neopets.com/petlookup


   Replace (colour/species) with your desired criteria. This method can be hit or miss, so persistence is key.

3. Utilize an Auto-Adopter Many players successfully use auto-adopters, like Darkztar’s Auto Adopters, to secure pets. While the chances of finding rare pets like Draiks or Krawks remain slim, you can often find excellent pets with minimal effort.

Conclusion

Pound Surfing can be a rewarding yet challenging aspect of Neopets. By understanding the process and employing these strategies, you can navigate the pound more effectively and increase your chances of finding your dream pet. Always remain mindful of the community’s rules and practices to ensure a positive experience.

Pound Catches

Here’s a list of the pets I managed to catch with the AA: